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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£35k tax free for working 20 hours a week....

775 replies

BitchyWitchy · 22/10/2010 23:42

In response to the 'Benefits' thread, I thought I would post this...

We took the decision to reduce DHs hours a few months back as we realised we are better off with him working part time than full time and this is what we get WEEKLY (4 DCs):

Wages (20 hours per week) £209
Housing Benefit £188 (leaving £7 for us to pay)
Council tax benefit £19 (leaving £3 for us to pay
Tax Credits £196
Working tax credits £13
Child benefit £60.50

Thats over £35K tax free! DH's fulltime wage was £34k before tax.

Also get free prescriptions and dental care, discounted kids activities and leisure centre membership. DH is home 5 days a week and I am loving having him around to help out with the DCs and doing stuff with them which he could not do when he worked 50 hours a week! 3 DC are at school so we get quality time with the youngest.

We are also doing free OU degree courses so we can get better paid jobs in a few years.

Wish to bloody god we did this earlier when we were BOTH stressed out working fulltime and brought in LESS that what we get now after childcare.

We shall enjoy this until 2013 I can tell you! I don't give a monkey's what anyone thinks of us. DH is still working after all and who would really continue working fulltime knowing they get all this? It may not be right but while it's on offer, should we refuse it?

OP posts:
MaMoTTaT · 23/10/2010 00:04

bloody hell - I'm resigned to the fact that I'm going to end up getting vast sums of tax free money from the government when I start work as finding a) a full time job and b) child care to go with it is going to be nigh on impossible round here. Even a full time wage round here for me is likely to mean I'm still reliant heavily on HB, CTC and WTC as most are minimum wage jobs Sad

I would chew my left arm off to be able to pay my own way by working and not have to rely on the state. To be able to pay my taxes and my rent, and most/all of my childcare out of my own pocket is something I fear I can only ever dream of.

mamatomany · 23/10/2010 00:04

Lol OP the time to do this was 5 years ago under a labour government, you'll get roasted alive now.

minouminou · 23/10/2010 00:04

I don't think BitchyWitchy is working - if she took a P-T job to pick up the reduction in her DH's earnings, all well and good, but instead, the pick-up is coming from tax.

gaelicsheep · 23/10/2010 00:04

"It's the fault of the system that work doesn't pay for some people on low incomes."

The OP's DH was on £34k - that is NOT a low income! If this thread shows anything, it's that work pays very well, thank you very much, if you're on a low income. It's the higher incomes, where you become ineligible for everything, where it stops paying so well.

VinegaRigamorTits · 23/10/2010 00:05

Hope your benefits chock you, greedy bastards

usualsuspect · 23/10/2010 00:05

How easily is MN wound up ?

Quattrocento · 23/10/2010 00:06

I suspect this was posted to inflame.

I think you are being unfair though. Not so much unfair to the hard-working taxpayers (me) but unfair to the people who are claiming benefits who are genuinely in need. YOU are the family who gives benefit claimants the trauma of being labelled scroungers.

VinegaRigamorTits · 23/10/2010 00:07

and what quattro said Biscuit

longfingernails · 23/10/2010 00:07

I am convinced this is a troll.

There are plenty of people who choose a lifestyle on benefits - but this takes the biscuit Biscuit.

MaMoTTaT · 23/10/2010 00:07

usual - sorry I'm usually with you on these threads - but the OP is taking the p*ss imo.

I can't anyone would actually feel comfortable knowing that they could support themselves but made a CHOICE to be heavily dependant on the welfare system.

minouminou · 23/10/2010 00:07

MaMoTTaT.....at least you're willing, and who knows what the future will bring for you?

MaMoTTaT · 23/10/2010 00:08

I can't "believe"

usualsuspect · 23/10/2010 00:08

It was posted to give benefit claimants a bad name for sure ...why can't people see that [sigh]

Original poster
BitchyWitchy · 23/10/2010 00:08

Nearly 'chock'ed laughing then Vinega!

OP posts:
VinegaRigamorTits · 23/10/2010 00:10

(ive had a few sherrys) what next? off to brighthouse to order your 96 inch flat screen TV? troll

MaMoTTaT · 23/10/2010 00:10

ahh you know what mino - I was there once upon a time - exH was working in a decent job (not a huge wage, but our housing costs were low and we had no debts) , I had the luxury of being a SAHM (as a choice), yes we got child benefit, and a small amount of WTC, but we otherwise supported ourselves.

I had a small taste of it and it was lovely

Original poster
BitchyWitchy · 23/10/2010 00:11

Am definitely not a troll. Even less so now that I can afford to go to the hairdressers and get my nails done!

Feel absolutely no shame either. Why would I. We are not doing anything illegal or committing fraud.

If we don't take what we are 'entitled' to, someone else will.

OP posts:
MillyR · 23/10/2010 00:12

Surely most of us spend our income on our kids, and the reason the OP gets so much money is because she has 4 kids. I am not convinced her kids are financially better off than mine, even though their household income is higher, because that income is supporting that many kids.

zeeka · 23/10/2010 00:12

Wow, some people have some very strong views on this...I think abusive replies are unnecessary!

I'm sure your DH is working very hard to bring up your children, not being lazy at all.

(on another note, I'm not sure you can get better paid jobs than 34K after an OU degree... that's a pretty decent wage!)

gaelicsheep · 23/10/2010 00:12

Even if I'm completely gullible and it's a troll, if the figures are correct there is something very very wrong with the system and I still wouldn't blame anyone who discovered and took advantage of it.

TheNextMrsDracula · 23/10/2010 00:14

Not on incapacity benefit are you? Don't get me started on that......

minouminou · 23/10/2010 00:15

We're doing that now, Mamo, DP's in the high tax bracket and I'm self-employed (don't earn much), and apart from CB, we get nowt, and it's hard work (we live in the SE).
Self-employed people get cock-all help....I'm still up working (and MN-ing) and I'll be up at 6.00am with the children...but I just can't think of any other way to weather the coming storm.

mamatomany · 23/10/2010 00:16

Hmmm the thing is I guess what stop me taking this option and I do think about it sometimes I'd be lying if I said I don't is the fact that you've got to be in it to win it, if I take my foot off the gas then some other young bright thing will jump in and take my place and then it'll be 10 times harder to get back into the old rat race.
So you keep your housing benefit OP and I'll keep my assets, you'll leave this earth and your DC with all that you came with it, sweet FA.

VinegaRigamorTits · 23/10/2010 00:16

what is the point of this inflammatory post?

MaMoTTaT · 23/10/2010 00:17

yes gaelic the figures sound about right - obviously OP lives somewhere in the South with high housing costs as the HB and CTB is quite high.

I'm on benefits (proper) now and yes - I do think it's disgusting that someone would CHOOSE to take adavantage of the system like this.

If the OP's DH had had his hours reduced by his employer - then I'd have more sympathy - that's what they're there for - to help out families who are forced onto low wages - but to CHOOSE to have a lower wage to take advantage - it makes me feel sick.